St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-12-15
CONTEMPLATED IMPROVEMENTS.
Something About the Proposed Changes
at the Know-NOthing Crossing.

Something About the Proposed Changes
at the Know-NOthing Crossing.
Reference has already been made in
these columns to the contemplated inn
provements at the know-nOthing cross
ing and dry bridge near the campus
just south of the village. Schemes
that would dispense with the crossing
of the Passumpsic and Lake road
tracks have been talked about ever
since the latter road was built. Disas-
trous accidents involving the loss OF
life and property have been of almost
yearly occurrence because of the exist
ing state of things, and the fact that
something is now likely to be done to
do away with the crossing altogether,
build a substantial dry bridge and to
otherwise improve the surroundings
will be welcome news to the people of
st. Johnsbury. Careful surveys have
been made. The present plan, which
will be submitted to the railroad Off
GERS for approval, is this:
The Passumpsic tracks, of course,
will be undisturbed. The Lake road
track will be laid west of and parallel
with the Passumpsic tracks from the
first switch in "the yard" south of the
depot, to within about 800 feet of the
present crossing. From this point the
track will make an easy curve to the
west joining the present track some
rods west of the dry bridge, and dis
pensing with the two compound curves
that at present exist. This Will neces-
state a number of changes, all of
which will be positive improvements
in Railroad and South Main streets.
Railroad street will be Strengthened
and moved about 60 feet west from a
point below the junction of Railroad
and Pearl streets to the proposed new
bridge. Railroad and Main street will
come together about 100 feet north of
the present dry bridge. South Main
street will also be Strengthened being
carried trifle to the west. The curve
made by the new track will necessi-
tate the removal of a portion of the
hill at the junction of Railroad and
Main streets and also portion of the
hill at the lower end and to the west
of Main street. The proposed new
bridge will be built on substantial
granite abutments and will be located
about Is feet north of the old one up
Main street. 1t will be twice as wide
as the old one, admitting of an I8 foot
driveway and two three-fOOt walks for
pedestrians, one on either side.
The advantages which the travelling
public will derive from the proposed
changes as regards the highway can be
better understood by personally view
ing the surroundings, but benefit
that will readily be understood by all
is that the steep pitches on both sides
the present bridge will be avoided.
Driving on to the bridge from the di-
rectiOn of the village there is now a
rise of five feet in 100; driving on to
it from the south there is a rise of IA
feet in so. By the new arrangement
the rise from this side will be reduced
from five to four feet in 100, and from
the opposite direction to from IA to
seven feet in so, reduction in the
latter case of half While this
will prove great convenience to all
travellers, it will prove especially so
at the time of the county fair when
there is crowded highway. AS to
the knOw-nOthing crossing no one who
has lived here since it was esta blished
needs to be told that it is a constan t
menace to the life and property of those
who have occasion to ride OH the rail
roads. A detailed description of all
the accidents that have occurred at
this point would fill many columns in
the CaledOnian. One man has been
employed constantly and another a
portion of the time to watch the cross
ing. Their services will be dispensed
is also estimated that it costs from 25
to so cents in the waste of fuel alone
every time a stop is made at this or
any other crossing. Add the expense
of two men and the expenses of stop
ping trains i'm the course of a year and
it represents the interest on very
pretty sum of money.
Messrs. Caldwell and Varnum are
making the estimates. The earth re-
moved to make way for the track will
be used in filling up the school house
and Emerson trestles in Fairbanks viii
lage. 1t is estimated that the whole
business will require an outlay of
about $4,000, and it is thought that
work will begin during the present
winter if the weather permits. 1t is
hoped that the thing will go this time.
st Johnsbury's Industries.
Pierce Brothers, manufacturers of
straw boards and lumber, have been
putting an addition on their straw
board mill at the Centre, and also have
clapboarded and painted the whole
building. In the spring they intend
building larger ell to the mill to be
used for bleaching the straw. The
mill is being repaired inside, and two
more beating engines and IL double
cylinder machine will be put in. When
completed the mill will be one of the
largest air drying strawboard mills in
New England. The mill runs wholly